Adjustable buttstock assembly



Oct. 24-, 1967 ROY 3 ,348,328

ADJUSTABLE BUTTSTOCK ASSEMBLY Filed May 10, 1966 IN VIZNIUR. ROBERT E.ROY

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,348,328 ADJUSTABLE BUTTSTOCK ASSEMBLYRobert Earl Roy, East Haven, Conn, assignor to Colts Inc., Hartford,Conn, a corporation of Arizona Filed May 10, 1966, Ser. No. 549,005 9Claims. (Cl. 4273) This invention relates to firearms and particularlyconcerns an improved adjustable buttstock assembly for rifles andsimilar weapons.

A primary object of the invention is to provide an improved buttstockassembly which is easy to adjust in length for comfortable use byindividuals of different size and which is particularly suited to becompletely field stripped in a matter of seconds.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustablebuttstock assembly of the type described wherein the stock may bepositively locked in an adjusted use position and yet be quickly removedfor inspection and cleaning purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved adjustablebuttstock assembly which is economical to manufacture and assemble andwhich is durable in operation under rugged conditions.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in pant pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction here after set forth and the scope ofthe application which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section and partly brokenaway, of an adjustable buttstock assembly shown in full lines in aretracted position and in broken lines in a fully extended position;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly broken away,showing a locking device incorporated in the present invention in apartially retracted position; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partly in section and partly broken away,showing the locking device in a fully retracted position.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, a preferred embodiment of anadjustable but-tstock assembly is shown of the general type described inmy copending patent application entitled, Adjustable Length Buttstock,Ser. No. 406,295, filed Oct. 26, 1964. As in the referenced patentapplication, buttstock assembly 10 includes a movable member or stock 12mounted for sliding movement lengthwise on a fixed member or rod 14secured by suitable means to the receiver or other suitable part of arifle, not shown, for extension rearwardly into a tubular housingportion 16 of the stock 12. Extending radially outwardly from the bottomof the rod 14 is an elongated rib 18, shown as having a downwardlyopening aperture of varying depth defined by a groove 20 and a pair ofshallow cylindrical recesses 22, 24. The recesses 22, 24 extend radiallyinwardly of the groove 2!} adjacent its opposite longitudinal ends whichare defined by forward and rear end walls 26 and 28.

To permit the stock 12 to be fitted onto the rod 14 for close fitting,sliding engagement, the housing portion 16 has a longitudinal bore 30open at its forward end. The bottom rib 18 of the rod 14 is received ina keyway 32 at the bottom of the housing portion 16 whereby relativerotational movement between the stock 12 and the rod 14 is preventedwhile, at the same time, permitting longitudinal movement therebetween.

The user is provided a comfortable shoulder fit by a buttplate 34partially supported by a thin tapered flange portion 3 6 which isintegral with the lower part of the 3,348,328 Patented Oct. 24, 1967housing portion and slopes upwardly from the buttplate 34. The flangeportion 36 merges into an enlarged stepped portion 38 formed on thebottom of the housing portion 16 intermediate the longitudinal ends ofthe stock 12. The stepped portion 38 is preferably formed with a flatbottom 40 and has a transverse bore 42 therethrough which opens into thekeyway 32.

To lock the stock 12 against sliding movement relative to the rod 14, alatch or lock pin 44 is received for axial reciprocating movement in thebore 42 which has a reduced diameter portion 46 to provide an annularshoulder 48 for seating one end of a compression spring 50' coiled abouta shank 52 of the pin 44. An opposite end of the spring 50 seats againstan enlarged cylindrical head 54 of the pin 44 and continuously urges ittoward an extended position wherein its head 54 is seated in one of therecesses 22, 24 to positively lock the stock 12 relative to the rod 14.

The recesses 22, 24 are formed to receive the head 54 of the pin 44 inclose fitting engagement so as to minimize longitudinal movement betweenthe rod 14 and the stock 12 when the pin 44 is in its extended position.The head 54 is of sufficient length to extend well into the bore 42while being seated in the recesses 22, 24, and any force tending to movethe stock 12 relative to the rod 14 will be effectively resisted by thepin 44 with the shear load being transmitted across the full diameter ofits enlarged head 54 to significantly increase the shear resistance andstrength of the locking arrangement.

To release the pin 44 from locking engagement with the rod 14, a handrelease lever 56 is provided for selectively retracting the pin 44. Thelever 56 is of U-shaped cross section and includes a forward pivotportion 58 and a rear handle portion 60, the latter extending downwardlyat an angle corresponding to the taper of the flange position 36. Anopening 62 is formed intermediate the ends of the pivot portion 58 andis of enlarged size relative to the shank 52 of the pin 44 whichprojects outwardly of the stock 12 through the reduced diameter portion46 in close fitting engagement therewith to assist in maintaining thepin 44 coaxially aligned within the bore 42.

Referring now to FIG. I, the lever 56 is shown with its handle portion60' in spaced adjacent relation to the flange portion 36 of the stock12. The pivot portion 58 of the lever 56 is fitted over the outwardlyprojecting end of the pin 44 and is retained by a nut 64 threadablysecured thereto. When the head 54 of the pin 44 is in its extendedposition, the pivot portion 58 is retained in direct surfiace-to-surfaceengagement with the flat bottom 40 of the stepped portion 38 under thebiasing force of the spring 50.

The base of the U-shaped lever 56 is shown having a lateral notch 66extending across its upper surface at the juncture between its pivot andhandle portions 58, 60 to provide a precisely defined first or rear endedge 68 on the pivot portion 58. This rear end edge 68 is positionedcloser to the opening 62 than is a second or forward end edge '76 of thepivot portion 58. The forward and rear end edges 68 and 70 define a pairof pivot axes about which the pivot portion 58 may be rotated upon thestock 12 in opposite angular directions for selectively retracting pin44.

More specifically, when the handle portion 60 is pulled toward the stock12, the stepped portion 38 serves as a fulcrum upon which the lever 56pivots about its rear end edge 68 to move the nut 64 and the lock pin 44against the bias of the spring 50 to an extent limited by the stock 12which provides a positive stop establishing a partially retractedposition of the pin 44 shown in FIG. 2.

With the pin 44 in its partially retracted position, the

head 54 is completely withdrawn from the recesses but positioned withinthe groove 20. The stock 12 will then be released for sliding movementon the rod 14 for varying the length of the rifle while at the same timeprecluding any possibility of the stock 12 being completely removed fromthe rod 14, since the head 54 of the pin 44 will remain in obstructingrelation to the forward and rear end walls 26 and 28.

Thereafter, upon aligning one of the recesses 22, 24 with the bore 42and releasing the lever 56, the pin 44 will be forced into lockingengagement with the rod 14 under the biasing force of the spring t}.\lVhile only two such recesses are shown for locking the stock 12 in itsillustrated retracted position and a fully extended position denoted bybroken lines in FIG. 1, additional recesses may be formed to provide arifle having a large number of easily adjustable positions to fit usersof different size.

When it is desired to disassemble the buttstock 10, the handle portion60 is simply pulled away from the stock 12 to pivot about its forwardend edge 70 and move the pin 44 to an extent limited by the side of thespring 50 and the length of bore 42. The desired degree of lock pinmovement is such that the head 54 of pin 44 is withdrawn from the grooveinto the bore 42, as seen in FIG. 3. The stock 12 is thereby releasedfor unrestricted movement and may be immediately removed from the rod14.

To facilitate assembly and disassembly, an opening 72 is formed in thetop of the stock 12 in coaxial alignment with its bore 42. Thus, when itis desired to assemble the buttstock 10, e.g., the spring 50 and the pin44- may be inserted through the opening 72 and into the bore 42whereupon the lever 56 is fitted over the projecting end of the pin 44and the nut 64 is secured to the same to maintain the components inassembled relation.

The lever 56 then may be pulled away from the stock 12 to move the pin44 into its fully retracted position to permit the stock 12 to be fittedonto the rod 14. The lever 56 is then released to allow the pin 44 tospring back into its extended position within one of the recesses 22,24, and the nut 64 is spun into snug engagement against the pivotportion 58 such that it will engage the flat bottom of the steppedportion 38.

By virtue of the above described structure, manufacturing variations andtolerances are readily accommodated to ensure that the pin 44 will beproperly withdrawn into its partially retracted position upon moving thelever 56 into engagement with the stock 12. In the event the pin 44 doesnot disengage the rod 14, the position of the pin 44 can be lowered bytightening the nut 64 until the pin 44 clears the recess. Thereupon thenut 64 may be secured in adjusted position against rotation relative tothe pin 44 by means of a roll pin 74. For this reason the projecting endof the pin 44 is preferably predrilled to provide a transverse holewhich registers with an elongated slot 76 in the nut 64 for receivingthe roll pin 74 and thereby secure the nut 64 in its adjusted positionon the pin 44.

Thus, the above described buttstock assembly is particularly suited tobe hand operated for quick and easy adjustment of the length of therifle or complete removal of the stock, alternatively, as determined bythe direction of angular movement of the hand lever relative to thestock. A weapon incorporating the present invention is readily fieldstripped, easy to store and transport and is adapted to provide acomfortable fit for individuals of ditferent size when in use.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adjustable buttstock assembly for a firearm comprising a fixedmember mountable on a firearm for extension rearwardly thereof, a stockfitted onto and receiving said fixed member for relative slidingmovement, a latch carried by said stock and selectively engageable withsaid fixed member for locking said fixed member and said stock againstrelative sliding movement, and operating means for moving said latchinto a partially retracted position precluding removal of said stockfrom said fixed member, while permitting sliding movement therebetweenfor varying the length of the firearm, and a fully retracted positionpermitting unrestricted sliding movement of said stock relative to saidfixed member for disassembly and assembly of the buttstock.

2. The buttstock assembly of claim 1 wherein said operating meansincludes a hand release lever having a pivot portion operativelyconnected to said latch and having first and second end edges defining apair of pivot axes about which said pivot portion may be rotated uponsaid stock in opposite angular directions for retracting said latch, andwherein first and second stop means are provided cooperating with saidstock for limiting pivotal movement of said pivot portion in saidopposite angular directions and respectively establishing said partiallyand fully retracted positions of said latch.

3. The buttstock assembly of claim 1 further including guide meansbetween said fixed member and said stock precluding relative rotationtherebetween.

4. The buttstock assembly of claim 1 wherein said fixed member includesa longitudinally extending groove and an end wall at a rear longitudinalend of said groove, said fixed member having at least one recess formedtherein opening into said groove, said groove and said recess togetherdefining an elongated aperture of varying depth in said fixed member,and wherein said latch is continuously biased toward its said extendedposition in seating engagement in said recess in said fixed member forlocking said stock against relative sliding movement.

5. The buttstock assembly of claim 4 wherein said stock includes atransverse bore in communication with said elongated aperture in saidfixed member, said latch being received in said transverse bore, andwherein a coil compression spring is received in said transverse bore,said spring acting between said stock and said latch and continuouslybiasing the same toward its said extended position.

6. The buttstock assembly of claim 5 wherein said operating meansincludes a hand release lever having a pivot portion operativelyconnected to said latch and having first and second end edges defining apair of pivot axes about which said pivot portion may be rotated uponsaid stock in opposite angular directions for selectively retractingsaid latch.

7. The buttstock assembly of claim 6 wherein said hand release leverfurther includes a handle portion integral with said pivot portion atits said first end edge, said handle portion being engageable with saidstock when said hand release lever is pivoted thereon about said firstend edge to effect a stop establishing said partially retracted positionof said latch wherein it is withdrawn from said recess in said fixedmember and positioned in said groove thereof in obstructing relation toits said end wall to preclude removal of said stock from said fixedmember while permitting limited sliding movement therebetween forvarying the length of the firearm, and wherein said coil compressionspring efiects a stop limiting pivotal movement when said hand releaselever is pivoted on said stock about said second end edge forestablishing said fully retracted position of said latch wherein it iswithdrawn completely from said groove into said transverse bore of saidstock to permit said stock to be removed from and fitted onto said fixedmember.

8. The buttstock assembly of claim 6 wherein said latch comprises a lockpin having an end projecting outwardly from said stock, said pivotportion of said hand release lever having an opening therein positionedcloser to its said first end edge than said second end edge thereof,

said opening being of enlarged size relative to said outer end of saidlock pin for receiving the same, and wherein a fastener is secured onsaid outer end of said lock pin maintaining said pivot portion insurface-to-surface engagement with said stock under the biasing force ofsaid coil compression spring when said lock pin is in its said extendedposition while permitting unobstructed pivotal movement of said pivotportion upon said stock in opposite angular directions.

9. The buttstock assembly of claim 8 wherein said fastener is adjustablelongitudinally of said lock pin for adjusting its said extended positionto accommodate manufacturing variations and tolerances.

No references cited.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

1. AN ADJUSTABLE BUTTSTOCK ASSEMBLY FOR A FIREARM COMPRISING A FIXEDMEMBER MOUNTABLE ON A FIREARM FOR EXTENSION REARWARDLY THEREOF, A STOCKFITTED ONTO AND RECEIVING SAID FIXED MEMBER FOR RELATIVE SLIDINGMOVEMENT, A LATCH CARRIED BY SAID STOCK AND SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITHSAID FIXED MEMBER FOR LOCKING SAID FIXED MEMBER AND SAID STOCK AGAINSTRELATIVE SLIDING MOVEMENT, AND OPERATING MEANS FOR MOVING SAID LATCHINTO A PARTIALLY RETRACTED POSITION PRECLUDING REMOVAL OF SAID STOCKFROM SAID FIXED MEMBER, WHILE PERMITTING SLIDING MOVEMENT THEREBETWEENFOR VARYING THE LENGTH OF THE FIREARM, AND A FULLY RETRACTED POSITIONPERMITTING UNRESTRICTED SLIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID STOCK RELATIVE TO SAIDFIXED MEMBER FOR DISASSEMBLY AND ASSEMBLY OF THE BUTTSTOCK.